Trail Blazers vs. Rockets Predictions, Odds, Preview


Trail Blazers vs. Rockets Video Best Bet

  • Jan. 28, 2021
  • By Michael Crosson
  • VegasInsider.com

Western Conference NBA action is back on TNT with the Rockets set to host the Blazers during Thursday night’s primetime slate, and VI is getting you ready with more Best Bets and Game Previews to help handicap all the evening’s top matchups.


Trail Blazers vs. Rockets Betting Resources

Betting Odds - Trail Blazers vs. Rockets

Line Movements

Subject to Change

  • Spread: Rockets -4.5
  • Money-Line: Houston -180, Portland +160
  • Total:

The Rockets head into this game as a 4.5-point home favorite – coming off straight-up wins in each of their last three matchups, while being listed as ‘underdogs’ in two of those contests (Detroit and Dallas).

While the total for this contest currently sits at OU 228.5, after Houston and Portland managed to combine for 226 total points in regulation during their first matchup of the season (OU 225.5).


Eric Gordon and the Rockets have been on a roll lately, winning and covering their last three games. (AP)

Trail Blazers vs. Rockets Current Form-Last Game

The Blazers got off to a hot start to the season – boasting a 7-4 record through their first 11 games but since their strong start, they have lost three of their last five contests as the injuries continue to pile up for Portland.

Portland’s most recent affair resulted in a 3-point loss the Oklahoma City, as a combined 70 points of support from Carmelo Anthony, Nassir Little, and Anfernee Simmons still was not enough to push Damian Lillard and company over the edge against the Thunder.

On the other hand, the Rockets appear to be experiencing their first glimmer of success since trading away James Harden – having won three straight games for the first time this season, which includes the time Harden spent in Houston prior to getting traded.

Since being traded to the Rockets, Victor Oladipo’s offensive efficiency numbers have plummeted – shooting 37.8% from the field and right around 30% from 3-point territory.

Oladipo certainly hasn’t let that affect his willingness to take shots with his new team though, considering he has put up more than 20 shot attempts in three of his first four games in Houston, which he did a total of zero times in Indiana this season prior to getting traded.


Trail Blazers vs. Rockets Head-to-Head

  • Dec. 26, 2020 - Blazers 128 vs. Rockets 126, Portland -7.5, Over 225.5
  • Aug. 3, 2020 - Blazers 110 vs. Rockets 102, Portland +3.5, Under 244.5 (*NBA Bubble)
  • Jan. 29, 2020 - Blazers 125 vs. Rockets 112, Portland +5, Under 242.5
  • Jan. 15, 2020 - Blazers 117 at Rockets 107, Portland +8.5, Under 236.5
  • Nov. 18, 2019 - Rockets 132 vs. Blazers 108, Houston -7.5, Over 231

Although Portland finished a full 10 games behind Houston in last year’s Western Conference standings, the Blazers still managed to take three of four games from the Rockets last season – with their only victory coming in a game that Harden and Westbrook combined for 64 points in.

The first matchup between Portland and Houston this season was an absolute thriller, as the Blazers led by double-digits heading into the 4th quarter, only to have that lead erased and the game sent into overtime behind 12 points from Harden in the final stanza of the contest.

C.J. McCollum ended up getting the best of Harden in the end though – racking up seven quick points in overtime on three of four shooting to cap off 44-point night (9-16 3P).

Unfortunately for Portland though, McCollum will be forced to miss an extended period due to a hairline fracture in his foot.

(SU-Straight Up, ATS - Against the Spread, OU - Over-Under)

Portland Trail Blazers Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

  • Overall: 9-7 SU, 6-10 ATS, 8-8 OU
  • Road: 4-2 SU, 4-2 ATS, 3-3 OU

When the Blazers are healthy, they are capable of being perennial Western Conference contenders. But when their roster begins to dwindle down to what it looks like now, they can become pretty difficult to put any trust into – considering they have failed to cover the spread in five of their last seven games, bringing them down to 6-10 ATS on the year.

Lillard has stepped up in a big way since the injuries to virtually half of Portland’s rotation – racking up either 30 points or 10 assists in each of his last four contests.

The ‘over’ has cashed in three consecutive Portland games, but make note that Thursday night’s total (228.5) is the highest ‘over-under’ we have seen in a Blazers’ game since they matched up with the Kings back on January 13th (237).

Houston Rockets Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

  • Overall: 7-9 SU, 7-9 ATS, 5-10-1 OU
  • Home: 4-4 SU, 3-5 ATS, 1-6-1 OU

The Rockets come into this game riding a 3-game winning streak SU and ATS, despite being without their current leader in scoring and rebounding, Christian Wood, in each of those three matchups.

DeMarcus Cousins has been starting in place of the injured Wood for Houston over the last few games. Boogie is having a rough start to his tenure in Houston, averaging 8.8 points and 7.8 rebounds on 34% from the field so far this season.

But Cousins filled in nicely in his last two starts – averaging 23.5 points and 14 rebounds per game on 57.7% from the field and 50% from 3-point territory across that stretch.

Wood is expected to be back in the starting lineup for the Rockets on Thursday night.

Key Injuries

Portland Trail Blazers

  • SG C.J. McCollum: Foot - Out
  • SF Robert Covington: Concussion - Out
  • SF Derrick Jones, Jr.: Quad - Probable
  • SG Rodney Hood: Thigh - Probable

Houston Rockets

  • PF Christian Wood: Ankle - Probable

The Blazers will be without a significant chunk of their rotation during Thursday’s contest for a variety of different medical concerns, with the most worrisome injury of the bunch being the hairline fracture in McCollum’s foot that is set to sideline him for at least a month or so.

Look for Lillard’s usage percentage to continue to skyrocket as the Blazers injury concerns from last year appear to already be haunting them again this season.

Player Prop Best Bet

Christian Wood – Over 20.5 Total Points (-118)

In Houston’s first matchup with the Blazers this season, Wood tallied a season-high 31 points on 63.6% shooting as the Rockets fell in overtime to the Blazers, 128-126.

In his first 12 starts with his new team, Wood has scored 20 or more points in every contest except one, which happened to be in a blowout loss on the back-half of a weekend double-header with the Lakers (18 points).

I’ll back Wood to have another big game on Thursday against a Blazers team that currently doesn’t have an answer for him defensively.

Trail Blazers vs. Rockets Prediction

Portland heads into Thursday’s contest with an extremely banged up core of rotational players, which has led to losses in three of their last five matchups against subpar competition (Thunder, Spurs, Pacers).

Over the Blazers’ past few games, they have proven that they cannot be trusted until a few major pieces are able to return to the lineup (McCollum, Nurkic, Collins).

I’ll back the Rockets to win and cover in a 4th straight contest against the Blazers on Thursday night.

Score Prediction: Rockets 115, Blazers 109
Best Bet: Houston -3